PICTURES HRH The Duchess of Cornwall visits The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visited The Donkey Sanctuary's international headquarters in Sidmouth today (Wednesday, July 17) to celebrate the charity's 50th anniversary.

Her Royal Highness, who is today celebrating her 72nd birthday, officially named The Donkey Sanctuary's latest arrival, a three-week-old foal. The foal, which The Duchess named Sweet Pea, was born into the care of the charity after her mum, Poppy, was relinquished to The Donkey Sanctuary when her owner could no longer care for her.

Her Royal Highness was welcomed to The Donkey Sanctuary by a group of year five and six students from Sidmouth Primary School. The Donkey Sanctuary's CEO, Mike Baker, hosted Her Royal Highness during the visit and gave her a tour of the charity's global headquarters, which included the charity's multi-award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden that has recently been re-built at the Sanctuary.

The 'Donkeys Matter' garden scooped the coveted 'People's Choice Award' in the Artisan category and was designed to showcase the charity's international work, and to demonstrate how owning a donkey means access to clean, fresh water for some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world.

While visiting The Donkey Sanctuary Her Royal Highness was introduced to Sidmouth Town Council Chair Ian Barlow. Speaking afterwards Councillor Barlow said: "It was fantastic to meet the Duchess and it's great to see The Donkey Sanctuary getting the recognition it deserves. Obviously with it being the Duchess' birthday today she got to choose where to go and she had been saving the best until last, which of course is why she is in Sidmouth."

Mike Baker said: "The Duchess of Cornwall's visit today was an opportunity to celebrate our landmark achievements over the last 50 years – from our foundation as a charity rescuing UK donkeys from neglect and abuse to a global leader for equine welfare, research and veterinary care."

Mike continued: "It was also an opportunity to take stock of the massive challenges in a world where the suffering of animals remains abhorrent. I introduced Her Royal Highness to members of the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE), an organisation established to work with the World Organisation for Animal Health. ICWE is comprised of leading NGOs, including The Donkey Sanctuary, Brooke, SPANA and World Horse Welfare."

Her Royal Highness also visited the charity's Donkey-Facilitated Learning centre. The centre is one of six across the UK offering programmes specifically for vulnerable children and adults, with the aim of developing some of their key life skills as defined by the World Health Organisation.

Here, The Duchess met beneficiaries of Pete's Dragons, an Exmouth-based charity that provides help and support for families bereaved by suicide. The East Devon charity recently partnered with The Donkey Sanctuary to provide key life skills sessions for some of their beneficiaries who described it as an 'unforgettable experience'.

To conclude the visit, Her Royal Highness attended a reception where she was presented with a birthday gift of Donkey Sanctuary branded Monopoly and a framed picture of Sweet Pea.